HISD holds final Parent University of the school year

HISD held its fifth and final Parent University workshop on Thursday evening, capping off a successful first year for the districtwide initiative.  

“Parent University has been a great opportunity for you, as parents, to get know us as a district,” Interim Superintendent Dr. Grenita Lathan told the crowd at Madison High School. “It’s important that you know all of the options that are available to your children in this district.   

The workshop was held at Madison and three locations: Furr, Northside and Westside high schools. The theme for the session was “Getting Your Child Ready for College and Careers.” In honor of the final workshop of the school year, HISD’s Family & Community Engagement Office awarded four $500 college scholarships to students in attendance, including Madison senior Jairo Miranda, who will be attending Universal Technical Institute in the Fall.  

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Bellaire HS gathers to celebrate start of construction on new building

The sun shone brightly upon Bellaire High School students, staff, and community members Tuesday as they gathered for the long-awaited groundbreaking ceremony in honor of their new school.

“While the road has been challenging and the process arduous, I believe that we are now ready to build a school that exceeds our initial expectations and that will propel our students into the future,” Principal Michael McDonough said.

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Achieve 180’s data-driven teacher is Teacher of the Month

There was much to be celebrated at Pugh Elementary on Tuesday when fourth-grade ELA teacher Julianne DeLay was surprised by Achieve 180 Area Superintendent Felicia Adams as the Sterling McCall VIP Services Teacher of the Month for March.  

Only in her third year as a teacher, DeLay is hitting it out of the park with her students, who are producing literacy scores above the district’s average, further driving her as a top performer and role model for those in the Achieve 180 program.  

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Energy Institute HS named National Magnet School of Excellence


Principal Lori Lambropoulos accepts the Magnet School of America’s Waldrip Magnet School of Merit Award on Saturday, April 13 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Energy Institute High School has been named a National Magnet School of Excellence by Magnet Schools of America, the national association for magnet and theme-based schools. 

Energy Institute High School is the first school in HISD devoted to preparing students for careers in the energy field. The mission of the school is to deliver cutting-edge education and to expose students to careers in the energy field. Energy Institute’s vision is to focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while breaking the barriers of the traditional classroom. 

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University of Houston-Downtown offers free tuition to low-income freshmen

Beginning this Fall, the University of Houston-Downtown pledges free tuition to incoming freshman if they have a family income of up to $50,000. 

The pledge, also known as the Gator Pledge, is a grant for students entering college for the first time. To be eligible, students must be Texas residents, a high school graduate who has earned a recommended or distinguished diploma, and eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant. Students must enroll as a full-time student at UHD and maintain 24 credit hours within a 12-month period. 

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H.E.A.R. meets with state lawmakers in Austin to advocate for school finance reform

Members of the Houston Educational Advocacy Representatives (H.E.A.R.) on Monday, March 11, met with 27 state lawmakers in Austin to discuss the urgent need for meaningful school finance reform this legislative session.

H.E.A.R., the brainchild of Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan, is a volunteer coalition of nearly 50 public education advocates tasked with educating lawmakers about HISD’s state and federal legislative priorities, especially school finance reform. H.E.A.R. met with members of the House Public Education and Appropriations Committees, Senate Education and Finance Committees and HISD’s state delegation.

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Interim Superintendent Lathan to receive Audrey H. Lawson IMPACT Award

Houston Independent School District Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan will receive the Audrey H. Lawson IMPACT Award this weekend at the annual scholarship luncheon and fashion show hosted by Houston’s historic Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church.

Lathan is among six community leaders selected for the impact they have on the local community. Other honorees include NASA’s Chief Education Officer Adena Williams Loston, Metropolitan Transit Authority General Counsel Cydonii Fairfax, NASA General Counsel Sumara Thompson-King, commercial and residential real estate broker Courtney Johnson Rose and author and Pastor Mia K. Wright.

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Name That Book competition makes developing literacy skills fun

HISD middle and high school students from across the district will gather to show off their reading comprehension skills next week during the annual Name that Book competition.

Coordinated by the HISD Department of Library Services, the contest serves to acquaint HISD students with classic literature, as well as contemporary award-winning books, representing a variety of genres.

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Board receives update on Achieve 180’s progress from the 2017-2018 school year

HISD Board receives an update on Achieve 180’s progress from the 2017-2018 school year

The HISD Board of Education received an update on Thursday from Assistant Superintendent of Research and Accountability Carla Stevens, who shared key achievements from a 250-plus page comprehensive report on the progress made within the Achieve 180 program for the 2017-2018 school year.

With testing coming up in April, it’s time for Achieve 180 and HISD’s Research and Accountability to fully vet the program’s progress to further predict the trajectory on the future of the program.

“It’s important to have these types of reports where we can have enough time to interpret the data, provide recommendations, and take a proactive approach in developing a plan for the 2019-2020 school year,” Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said.

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C. Martinez ES teachers to read bedtime stories via Facebook Live

The Houston Independent School District’s C. Martinez Elementary School is starting a weekly Facebook livestream event to focus on literacy. 

Every Tuesday evening, students can login to Facebook (CMES Readers Den) for “A Night in the Wolves Den” and listen to a special guest read a bedtime story.  The intent is to help build literacy at home by engaging with CMES teachers and staff in a way that is current and fun. 

To join in, add CMES Readers Den as a friend on Facebook and turn in on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. to hear a bedtime story read by a teacher.